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There’s never been a doubt in my mind that we belong together, here and in eternity…

But if I have to die for her to live, then so be it.

The beast breaks free of his chains, and I’m unable to stop him.

Flying from my side of the bond, he attacks the poison tainting her blood.

He lashes, bites, claws, and tears into what’s sickening her. Doing everything I couldn’t do alone.

Nothing but pure rage burns in my soul.

Then my eyes are blinded by an explosion on her side.

Every single nerve in my body alights with a radiant euphoria.

Following the source of my bliss, I race into the bond only to find Alena curled upinside me.

I watch as dark smoke swirls around her.

For the briefest of moments, I fear the prophet has followed her into my soul.

But it’s not the prophet. It’s something far stronger than that bitch.

My inner beast.

This is what I should have permitted all along.

My berserker howls with joy. Finally demonstrating his true purpose.

To protect Alena and the bond.

Pulling myself out of the bond, I turn to Chloe and find she’s still savagely hacking at my arm like some half-crazed lumberjack.

Alena is safe inside me. Protected by the berserker I’ve hated for so long.

I’ve cursed him. I’ve hated and tried to destroy him.

But this was always his true purpose.

To be my beloved’s protector.

“Mother,” I grunt, “you can stop now.”

Only Chloe doesn’t stop. Her hand swings down again against my wrist.

“Chloe,” I say more firmly, trying to get through to her. “It’s okay. Alena’s safe.”

My efforts are hopeless, though. Holding my hand in a death grip, Chloe continues to slice into me.

The blood flowing from me is no longer being absorbed by Alena. It’s just uselessly falling to the bed.

Chloe’s fixated on the blood and the flashing of the knife.

She can’t stop herself.

“Asher,” I gasp. “Help…”

This crazy mother of mine is going to bleed me to death, and I can’t stop her because I have to focus on holding Alena.